The notes of the cult actor, who died in 2005, also unforgettable in Cabbage soup (1981), will be published on Wednesday November 6 by Éditions Fayard. A great opportunity to penetrate the mind of a legend of French cinema and theater.
The text of the play The idiots' dinner a success which subsequently gave birth to a very popular film, was republished on Wednesday with annotations by actor Jacques Villeret. Fayard editions reproduce in large format the pages on which the actor underlines his lines in the role of François Pignon, accompanied by photos of the play.
Remaining on the bill at the Théâtre des Variétés in Paris for more than two years, from September 1993, the play was adapted for the cinema in 1998. Jacques Villeret immediately accepted the role proposed by the author of this text, Francis Veber. The other main role, that of Pierre Brochant, the man who invites François Pignon to the “cons dinner”, went to Claude Brasseur.
The art of a great actor
As his son Alexandre Villeret recounts in the preface, the actor “ began to darken the pages » (around 250 double-sided) immediately after its first reading. He added indications as to his movements on stage, the tone or the emotions of his character: “ doubtful », « a time of distrust », « embarrassed ».
« Shis only obsession: not to lose your voice! »
Alexandre Villeret
« You were talking about 99 % of work, from 1 % of talent “, writes Alexandre Villeret, who remembers his father’s daily exercises to “ his only obsession : don't lose your voice ! » At the cinema, The idiots' dinner reached 9.2 million entries. It earned Jacques Villeret the 1999 César for best actor and TF1 the best television audience of 2001, beating the September 11 news and Loft Story.
